Phalaris minor is the major weed of wheat crop in rice - wheat cropping system. Sometimes its population is so high (2000-3000 plants / m2) that farmers are forced to harvest the wheat crop as fodder. Isoproturon (Arelon) was recommended for the control of Phalaris minor in 1980s. It remained effective for almost a decade. However, sole dependence on this herbicide resulted in the development of resistance to Isoproturon in Phalaris minor.

In zero tillage fields, the intensity of Rumex and Malwa parviflora is increasing and may become a problem in the coming years. Therefore, we must remain vigilant regarding weed flora shift due to changes in tillage practices.

Weed Management Practices in Wheat

Various practices of weed management can be grouped into three broad categories namely cultural and preventive; physical or mechanical; and chemical weed control. These practices are discussed below;

Cultural and Preventive

Cultural practices such as time and method of sowing, crop density and geometry, crop varieties, dose, method and time of fertilizer application, time and method of irrigation have pronounced effect on crop-weed interference. Some of these factors are listed below:

Use clean wheat seed that is free from weed seeds.

Go in for early sowing of wheat (before 15 Nov.).

Adopt closer row spacing (18 cm).

Adopt criss-cross sowing to increase population density of the wheat plants.

Place basal dose of fertilizer 2-3 cm below the seed.

Sowing of wheat on FIRBS reduces weed population.

Pull out weeds before seed setting.

Keep blinds & irrigation channels free from weeds.

Introduce either berseem or oat for fodder, as a crop rotation, sown once in three years.

Stimulate emergence of Phalaris by giving light irrigation followed by weed control with non-selective herbicides like glyphosate or cultivation followed by sowing of wheat.

Zero tillage offer a way to manage Phalaris but continuously practising zero tillage invites problem from other weeds.

Grow fast growing and robust varieties of wheat.

Mechanical Control

It involves the removal of weeds by various tools & implements including hand weeding & pulling. It is not feasible where weeds resemble morphologically to crop ego P. minor & Avena ludoviciana before flowering in wheat. Also, mechanical weed control becomes difficult in broadcast sown wheat. However, mechanical control can be practiced effectively when wheat is sown on FIRBS as this system facilitates tractor mounted implements usage.

Chemical Control

Chemical weed control is preferred because of less labor involvement and no mechanical damage to the crop that happens during manual weeding. Moreover, the control is more effective as the weeds even within the rows are killed which invariably escape, because of morphological similarity to wheat, during mechanical control. The following weedicide schedule has been found effective in controlling the Isoproturon resistant population of Phalaris minor.

Pre-emergence

As pre-emergence, only Stomp 30EC (Pendimethalin) is available which can be applied @ 3300 ml/ha (1OOO g a.i/ha) at 0-3 days after sowing in 500 liters of water /ha. Care must be taken to have fine tilth for better performance of pendimethalin. It controls both grasses and broadleaved weeds.

Post-emergence

During the last 3-4 years a number of herbicides were found effective against even the resistant biotypes of Phalaris minor. Out of the four new herbicides found effective against Phalaris, two namely Sulfosulfuran and Metribuzin were effective against both grassy and non-grassy weeds, whereas clodinafop and fenoxaprop were specific to grassy weeds. Application of Metribuzin should be done carefully as this chemical is not safe at double the recommended dose. Also its application is risky if hot and windy weather prevails and rainfall occurs immediately after its spray / application.

The herbicides that are to be applied as post emergence after first irrigation at 30-35 days of sowing or 2-3 leaf stage of Phalaris minor are;

Both Grassy and Broad Leaved

1. Sulfosulfuran @ 25.0g a.i./ha in 250-300 liters of water /ha.2. Metribuzin @ 175 g a.i./ha in at least 500 liters of water /ha.3. A mixture of Sulfosulfuran at 25g/ha and metsulfuron methyl @ 4 g/ha in 250-300 liters water /ha.4. Combination of 2,4-0 and isoproturon can also be used for the control of mixed weed population in resistance free area.